Safety tray rail



Spt. 13, 1927.

F. L. BROWN SAFETY TRAY RAIL Filed 001:. 11, 1926 if; INVEN'TOR /z?- 4ATTORNEY WITNESS:

Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

FREDERICK LEWIS BROWN, OF WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA SAFETY TRAY RAIL.

Application filedOetober 11, 1926. Serial No. 140,933.

My present invention has reference to improvements in tracks on whichtrays are slid around the serving counters in cafeterias, my generalobject being the construction of a track for this purpose which willeffec-' tively sustain the tray thereon, holding the said tray fromlateral or side movement and causing the tray, in its movement, to begradually elevated to the corners of the track, at which points therails constituting the tracks are at the same level so that the tray maybe conveniently turned and caused to travel at a slight downwardinclination on the angle portion of the track and to be again engaged bythe rails of the track in a manner to effectively hold the tray thereonand to prevent the spilling or upsetting of the contents of the tray.

To the attainment of the above broadly stated objects and others whichwill present themselves as the nature of the invention is betterunderstood, the improvement also consists in certain novel features ofconstruction, combination and operative association of parts, asatisfactory embodiment of which is disclosed by the accompanyingdrawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improvement.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 33 of Figure 1.

The track is secured on suitable supports that are bolted or otherwiseconnected to a counter in a cafeteria. In general appearance the trackis somewhat similar to that of the ordinary construction, the said trackbeing made up of side rails 1 and intermediate rails 2. These rails aresuitably supported on transverse and lateral angle brace members 3 and4:. The intermediate rails 2 are substantially rectangular in crosssection, while the side rails 1 are stepped, the inner horizontalshoulders 5 provided by said steps being in a plane with the top of therails 2 and forming a support for the tray 6, indicated by the dottedlines in Figure 2 of the drawings. At each end the track is formed fromits corners with inwardly extending portions 7 and the space 8, betweenthese inturned portions 7, permits free arrangement of the tray on therails. The tray resting on the rails 2 and on the shoulders or treadsurfaces 5 of the rails 1 will be effectively held from canting or sidemovement, but the said tray may be easily slid along'the track. Therails constituting the track are gradually inclined upwardl from theirouter ends to the corners of sai track, the tread surfaces 5 of therails 1 being, of course, likewise inclined upwardly, so that all of therails and the corners of the track are elevated but in the same plane.This permits of the-tray being freely turned from one to the second sideor branch of the track, and the tray moving on the said second branchwill, of course, follow the slightly downwardly inclined rails of thesaid branch of the track and have its sides contacted by the shoul-'ders 8 of the rails 1, in a manner as previously described, so thatlateral movement, or as a matter-of-fact, free longitudinal movement ofthe tray will be effectively prevented.

From ersonal observation I have found that by t e employment of theusual tray tracks in cafeterias, the trays not being held from lateralmovement on said tracks, have been frequently, but, of course,accidentally moved off of such tracks with the result that the contentsof the tray are destroyed and the dishes holding the foods are broken.With my improvement the liability of the tray being accidentally movedoff the track is entirely overcome, while also with my improvement thetray being elevated at the corners of the track may be freely turnedfrom one to the other branch of the track.

Having described the invention, I claim 1. A track for food trays incafeterias, comprising intermediate and outer rails, said outer railsfrom the ends thereof, being channeled to provide tread surfaces andside shoulders, the tread surfaces being in a plane with that of theintermediate rails, and the tread surface of the side rails and theintermediate rails being gradually inclined upwardly from the ends tothe corners of the traclg, for the purpose set forth.

2. A track for food trays in cafeterias,

comprising intermediate and outer rails, said outer rails from the endsthereof, being channeled to provide tread surfaces and side shoulders,the tread surfaces being in a plane With that of the intermediate rails,and the tread surface ofthe side rails and the intermediate rails beinggradually inclined up- Wardly from the ends to the corners of the track,and the outer ends of the track having inwardly directed flanges at thecorners thereof of a height equaling that of the shoulders of the siderails of the track.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

FREDERICK LEl/VIS BROWN.

